The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1887-11-16
Is. saltwater, Mimi, Wednesday, Nov. IS, 1887.
.iV0'CentS.

ton is clearly set forth and followed that
| prisoner. whether pilferer. murderer or child.
man or woman, has no human right that
the state is bound to be at any expense to
prOtect-a course that is at utter variance
with the intention of the laws that are at
present on our statute books. For man
can never fall SO low as to be utterly out
side of responsibility to the law, therefore
| to his right OF protection. and benevolent
policy shown to bad men is often wise one.
Who can deny that prison is just as much
a part of the social system OF moral educa-
| tiOn as the public schools, the church, the
courts and police. for the fact that these
elements were brought into requsitiOn to
send the person to prison proves that it is
part of the system and is not considered
the END. but was intended to be an ad-
vanced school of strict discipline where the
delnquents are required to learn. not by in
structon. but by reflection and example.
and forced attendance: and the example
that is set by the contract system is not cal
culated to bring out any latent spark of
manhood or good resolve III those who are
compelled to stand by and see its daily
workings. And thus are the warden'S
hands tied and the object OF this factor of
the social system defeated to put few
paltry dollars into the treasury to be only
quickly withdrawn by appropriations to
courts to carry OH the expensive trials of Of
Tenders who might have been reformed and
made good citizens had not the state shirked
its sacred duty in confding to private spec
ulatOrS the charge of reforming the morals
of its criminal classes, in the falaciousa
hope of saving the taxpayer a few
cents taxes; and in all probability some 0f
| the same prisoners will cost the taxpayer
| ten times as much OH his discharge by fall
ing back into the old rut again and necessi-
tating an expensive chase and trial. For,
indeed nine-tenthS of the prisoners have no
trade or means OF gaining an honest living
and owing to the almost minute division of
labor in prison he can learn absolutely
nothing that will be of use to him in an
honest endeavor to earn his bread. his long
isolation from society and the constant re-
minder of the fact that the hand of every
man is raised against him. are drawbacks
that require exceptionally strong character
to rise above. and it he is unequal to the
task he is to be pitied rather than con-
deinned.
The state of Minnesota, through its last
legislature has vindicated its right to be
claSSed among the most advanced of the
United States in her prison policy. 1t pro
vided for a new system. that of the Public
Account, to go into effect in September next,
whereby the wards of the state pass into
the exclusive control of its officers. ANA is
robbed of all the Objectionable features that
characterized the above mentioned system.
1t is the only system worthy of the name
that with view to practicability can ever be
evolved into wholesome course compatible
with the honor of an American state. and
when the practical results have become APP
parent. then and not till then will the GRIM
inal be robbed of his ferOciOuSneSS. and the
rising generation of criminals saved from
the horrible fate OF testing the prison ac-
cOmmOdatiOns of every state in the union, as
is getting to be the case at present under
the various state academies for crime. Let
taxpayers once realize that the short-sighted
policy and false economy of Withholding
appropriations from prison. and on the
other hand bestOwing them on courts,
schools, and police is but putting money in
their pockets only to pull it out again for
substantially the same end, and there will
be fewer sleek contractors fattening on the
folly of senile state governments. Z. NJ.
Nov. s, 1887.